Controlling Anal Incontinence by Performing Anal Exercises With Biofeedback or Loperamide (CAPABLe)

Participants randomized to the loperamide group will begin with 2mg of loperamide/day. The participant will be administered the Patient Global Symptom Control rating scale (PGSC) to determine dose escalation. Participants who report inadequate control of stool leakage on the PGSC will be instructed to increase the daily dose of loperamide by 2 mg up to a maximum of 8 mg per day (1-4 capsules). Bothersome adverse events and resulting dose reduction will be based exclusively on the result of the Patient Global Tolerability Scale (PGTS). The daily dose will be decreased by 2mg to a minimum of 2mg every other day. If a PGSC score indicates inadequate control of stool leakage combined with a PGTS score indicating bothersome side effects, the participant will discontinue the study medication.

Participants randomized to the placebo arm will begin the a dose of one capsule per day and will be dose increased or dose decreased using the same algorithm described for the loperamide arm.

Participants will receive a formal anal exercises training program that can be easily applied in an office setting with minimal participant burden. Participants will attend six anal exercises with biofeedback sessions with trained personnel over a 12-week period for the 24-week study. Sessions will include introduction, standard patient education, and exercises using anal manometry-assisted biofeedback introducing concepts such as shaping, generalization and termination. The protocol uses strength and sensory training including urge resistance training. During the final twelve weeks, participants will perform anal exercises on their own. The sessions with interventionists will occur every other week for 12 weeks (total 6 supervised sessions).

Usual care consists of patients receiving an educational pamphlet on fecal incontinence created by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.